Affiliation: IRGC
Mohammad Bagher Shirinkar is a senior official of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Cyber-Electronic Command (IRGC-CEC). He maintains a close working relationship with Fatemeh Sedighian Kashi, coordinating cyber operations targeting U.S. elections, critical infrastructure, and businesses through the IRGC cyber unit known as Shahid Shushtari (previously known as Emennet Pasargad, Aria Sepehr Ayandehsazan, Eeleyanet Gostar, and Net Peygard Samavat Company). Shahid Shushtari members have caused significant financial damage and disruption to U.S. businesses and government agencies through coordinated cyber and cyber-enabled information operations targeting multiple critical infrastructure sectors including news, shipping, travel, energy, financial, and telecommunications in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The group is connected to CyberAv3ngers, which utilized IOCONTROL malware to target worldwide ICS/SCADA devices. In August 2020, Shahid Shushtari actors began a multi-faceted campaign targeting the U.S. presidential election. On February 2, 2024, Shirinkar was designated as a Specially Designated National by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under counterterrorism authority Executive Order 13224. The U.S. government is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his identification or location.